Welcome to the September edition of TA Talk. This month marks the culmination of two significant events that value and recognise the role of teacher aides in schools.
The first week of September, 2nd - 6th, was Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week when schools, nationwide, celebrated their support staff. Some also entered our morning tea competition by sharing how they showed appreciation for their teacher aide teams. We have showcased the winning school on our website, and included the details of all schools who made an entry in a story below.
During Appreciation Week, we announced the winners of the 2024 Australian Teacher Aide of the Year awards. Kim Diegutis from Middlemount Community College in Queensland was named the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year, and the Education Assistants from Ocean Reef Senior High School were named the Australian Teacher Aide Team of the Year. The awards recognise the significant contribution of the many highly skilled educators who work alongside teachers, to improve the learning experience of students. We encourage you to go to our Awards page and read about this year's very deserving winners, along with the amazing finalists and highly commended teacher aides, nominated by schools right around our country.
The team at Australian Teacher Aide have also been celebrating as, for the third year running, we have been named one of the top professional development service providers in Australia, in The Educator 2024 Service Provider Awards! We are extremely proud of this achievement, especially as we share the accolades with a number of other premium service providers in Australia.
Recently, the Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS) Industry Reference Group provided their final feedback on the standards, and we are on track to publish ATAPS in November. We receive regular inquiries from schools eager to start using ATAPS for their performance and professional growth process for teaching assistants, and over the coming months, we will provide you with more information on how to access the standards, the support materials we are producing, how to participate in ATAPS workshops, and of course - the launch date!
Lastly, if you attend our regular web events, you will know that we plan a long way ahead to ensure we provide you with the content you tell us you need. We already have quite a few events on the drawing board for 2025, however if you have any particular requests for professional learning, or you are doing something amazing at your school that you would like to share with the ATA community, please use this web form to let us know.
We wish you a relaxing holiday break and a great term ahead, @{aspediacrm-person-firstname}!
Warm regards Stella and Mandy |
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APPRECIATION WEEK COMPETITION |
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We received a fantastic array of entries for our morning tea competition! It was inspiring to read all the creative ways Teacher Aides are celebrated in their schools. As Appreciation Week celebrations wrap up for another year, we're excited to end on a high note by announcing the winner of our morning tea competition on our website! A huge thank you to all the schools that participated (listed below); you made the selection process incredibly tough!
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Al-Taqwa College, VIC Amamoor State School, QLD Amity College, NSW Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Woodleigh Campus, VIC
Borden Primary School, WA Carey Baptist College, WA Chairo Christian School, Pakenham Campus, VIC Collingwood Park State School, QLD Edith Creek Primary School Gordonvale State High School, QLD
Governor Stirling Senior High School, WA King's Christian College, QLD Maharishi School, VIC Marsden Park Anglican College, NSW |
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Moama Anglican Grammar School, NSW New Hope Christian School, NSW Newington Primary School, VIC
Mosman Community College, NSW Nunawading Christian College, VIC Oatlands District High School, TAS
Ocean Reef Senior High School, WA Pacific Coast Christian School, NSW Penrith Anglican College, NSW
Shoalhaven River College, NSW St Anne's College, VIC St Joseph's Nudgee College, QLD
Tullawong State High School, QLD Varsity College, QLD Woodleigh School, VIC |
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Another incredible year of awards marks the end of our busiest season!
It’s been a truly rewarding journey, highlighting the efforts these dedicated education support workers make to improve their knowledge and practice to support student learning and wellbeing. They are, as one nominator described, "a critical part of the teaching team."
We’ve been inspired by the stories shared and the passion shown by both teacher aides and the schools that support them. As we reflect on this year's achievements, we’re already hard at work planning for next year’s event. Exciting things are on the horizon, so be sure to stay tuned for updates! |
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ATA IS A BUSINESS FOR GOOD |
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Empowering Change Together
At Australian Teacher Aide, we’re passionate about empowerment and development. Did you know that when you, your school, or your training organisation purchase or renew a membership, something remarkable happens in the world?
We take great pride in the fact that each new and renewing membership enables us to provide vital health and education support to children in Australia and beyond, who otherwise would go without. To date, we’ve made an incredible 2,978 impacts globally!
Learn more about the difference we’re making together, and stay tuned for updates on our ongoing giving stories. |
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Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance
3:30pm Tuesday, 8 October 2024
ATA guest presenter Sarah Lovett is the founder of Our PDA Kids, and an Accredited Social Worker specialising in supporting children with pathological demand avoidance. In this webinar, Sarah will discuss the differences between PDA and autism and how to support students who are in a dysregulated state. Sarah will explain the importance of equalising behaviour, and will give effective strategies to assist PDA students in the classroom.
Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge and skills, complemented by her personal experience as a proud autistic woman with a PDA profile, and the mother of twins with PDA and autism.
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Supporting Students with Oppositional Defiant Disorder |
If you would like to enhance your skills in effectively supporting students with ODD, our new resource is here to help!
In this preview, Dr. Jo Winther, a highly experienced clinical psychologist with over 30 years of expertise in Juvenile Justice, Disability, and Mental Health, discusses the importance of a whole school approach and the positive effects that can come from a well set-up classroom environment.
Jo gives tips on ways that ODD presents, and gives practical advice for setting these students up for success. |
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INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT |
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We are always excited to see schools fully utilising their membership, and we love hearing about the progress they’re making. It’s not just schools, though, individuals can also exceed our expectations!
A special shout-out to Lisa from St George Christian School in NSW, who has completed all the professional development courses available in the ATA library! Lisa achieved an impressive 12 PDs just last month and has already finished our latest resource!
Commonly, schools that participate highly on our PD ledger, schedule regular time for TA professional development, and they use the PD Planner and PD Record to document a plan that serves as a roadmap to improving support practice. The following schools have made outstanding progress this month. Congratulations to: Catholic College Wodonga (VIC) Newbury Primary School (VIC) St Mary's School - Mooroopna (VIC) Maryborough State High School (QLD) |
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DON'T FORGET TO USE OUR JOB BOARD |
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| Positions Vacant
Newcastle Grammar School in New South Wales has a position vacant for a full-time Secondary Learning Support Officer. Browns Plains State High School in Queensland have casual positions open for relief teacher aides. TAFE NSW have a position vacant for a teacher of school based education support.
Looking for staff? Schools with ATA membership can advertise positions vacant for education support staff on our Job Board. Looking for work?
Individual ATA members can advertise positions wanted. |
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OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CHAMPION SCHOOLS |
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Congratulations to the following schools who recently celebrated their 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th continuous year of membership with ATA! This impressive milestone reflects the commitment of the schools' leaders to the professional growth of their education support teams. |
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9-year Professional Learning Champions Toukley Public School NSW
8-year Professional Learning Champions Dakabin State High School QLD Prince of Peace Lutheran College QLD
7-year Professional Learning Champions Indooroopilly State High School QLD St Joseph's Catholic School - Mount Isa QLD The Rock Central School NSW Yarraman P-9 State School QLD 6-year Professional Learning Champions Biloela State School QLD
Brisbane State High School QLD Crest Education VIC
Giru State School QLD
Kelvin Grove State College QLD Knox Grammar School NSW
North Regional TAFE WA
Toowoomba Grammar School QLD |
| 5-year Professional Learning Champions Abbotsleigh Junior School NSW
Ayr State School QLD
Bell State School QLD
Gympie Special School QLD
Lighthouse Christian College (VIC)
Northside Christian College VIC
OneSchool Global - Australia (VIC) OneSchool Global - Victoria (VIC)
OneSchool Global - New South Wales (NSW)
OneSchool Global - Western Australia (WA)
OneSchool Global - Tasmania (TAS)
OneSchool Global - Queensland (QLD)
OneSchool Global - South Australia (SA) Oxley Christian College VIC
St Patrick's College - Tasmania TAS
Sunshine Beach State High School QLD |
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW SCHOOLS AND TRAINING ORGANISATIONS |
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NSW Amity College Grenfell Public School Moama Anglican Grammar School
Murwillumbah East Public School Richmond Christian College St Francis Xavier School - Lake Cargelligo St Pius X College - Chatswood Terrigal High School
Uranquinty Public School NT
M'Bunghara School
SEDA College NT QLD Barrett Adolescent Centre Special School
Browns Plains State High School
Citipointe Christian College
Concordia Lutheran College
Coominya State School
Grantham State School
Kedron State School
Mackay State High School
Rockhampton Special School
St Michael's College - Caboolture
Thuringowa State High School
Townsville Catholic Education (RTO) |
| SA Mount Carmel College - Rosewater
Navigator College - Port Lincoln
St Joseph's School - Renmark VIC Bacchus Marsh College
Bendigo Kangan Institute (RTO)
Brauer College - Warrnambool
Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs
Foundation College
Moolap Primary School
Nunawading Christian College
St Albans East Primary School
St Augustine's Primary School - Keilor
St Bede's College
St Christopher's Primary School - Airport West
St Joseph's Primary School - Orbost
Upper Yarra Secondary College
Westbourne Grammar School
Woodleigh School WA Carey Baptist College - Forrestdale
CBC (Christian Brother's College) - Fremantle Exmouth District High School
Gladys Newton School
Leeming Senior High School
Prendiville Catholic College
St Mary Star of the Sea College - Carnarvon |
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WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE |
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Although the competition is now closed, this has been our highest trending post and we were thrilled to see so many of our followers sharing it and encouraging friends and colleagues to enter! |
5,964 views
25 reactions, 11 comments and 5 shares |
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Leaders in Professional Learning for Schools |
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